Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-10-11
THE WAR IN DIXIE.
A CONFEDERATE COLONEL GIVES
SOME WAR TIME EXPERIENCES.

A Burnt Offering OF Surplus Ra-rare.
Novel Methods of Preparing a Dinner.
Arrimi I've Spring Be,i-An ley Couch.
A Pred sstinarian.
In the spring of 1862 our patres con-
script had evidently become convinced
that the contest was likely TO he both seri-
Gus and long, and volunteers for three
years or the war We're called for Soon
after this was at Corinth, Miss, as cap
tam of company in the Thrty-ciChth
mississippi regiment. had provided my
self with an ample supply Of bedding, in
Guiding mattress. and took along a trunk
containing some elegant citizens clothing
for dress or social occasions. One day our
quartermaster requested us Ia send all
haggage TO ihe depot for convenience Of
transportation in case of retreat" This
was thoughtful Of him and felt grateful.
but not for long. In a few hours it trans
gired that our luggage was not To he
checked through, but was 10 he burned.
IL began 10 dawn upon me that had been
somewhat stupid in my military prepara-
:ions, but when | rushed off 10 the depot /
ana found several acres of similar impedi- !
ments piled up for a burnt offering felt 7
somewhat relieved. Ii was clear that my /
ears We're no longer than my ncighbors' /
Ihat night Corinth was evacuated The /
.neasleS. disease very fatal To soldiers.
lad already appeared in camp and the ex-
I osure OF this retreat resulted in the death .
tt nfty y-nlne men in my company of l30
Ihe regiment had been hurried 10 tho
Front before submitting To the hardening
l. Lrocess OF camp of instruction through 4
the ambitious vanity of its colonel who
LAS III haste 10 win hrigader's wreath,
u occasioned no surprise that the lean
Jack falstaf ran away from our first
Serious fight at luka and we saw him no
Elore. On this retreat feat was per
formed in a culinary way that could not
lie eScclled. Being separated from our
trains and having little knowledge of the
Iced Of being always prepared for sudden
there was neither pot nor pan
70 be found in the company.
In spite of these minor difficulties I
ilned one day, by invitation, and, as
thought AT the time, luNuriously, Off of /
bot loaf bread and butter and broilcd
lender!oin steak. Dinner was PREPARED
In this way: pit was dug some twenty
|pches square and one foot deep with u
Iheulder half ways down. In this pit dry
nak twlgs were burned 10 embers 4
clean handkerchief well houred answered
for tray and the loaf. when kneaded.
was placed in the pit. This was covered
with bark and earth and the oven was
perfect and complete. When the bread
Was done other sticks were made to do
luty as griddle, and with the help of a
lew necessities obtained from "A farm
house the steak was broiled and seasoned
70 turn.
A PRIMITIVE SPRING BED.
After the burnt offering mentioned
runks and mattresses disappeared and,
most generally. tents Were an unknown :
luxury 10 the private soldier in the field ,
Here again necessity spurred on invention ,,
md q sort Of liiiputian tent was the re-
suit. -Four stakes about two feet long,
With forks for cross pieces, We're driven in
he ground. On these platform was
made by laying poles lengthwise, thus
making spring bed Of no mean preten-
lions. About three feet above this was a
,idge pole, across which rubber or
Soolen blanket was stretched tent fash
On. \ blanket laid on the platform, ano
mother for covering formed the tempo ;
AIRY couch of two men. Thsy entered oa ,
III fours at the end, as a rat enters his ,,
iole, but, unlike the rat, they did not :
urn round TO come out. This pretentious !;
lyle of housekeeping wa. only resorted
@ in wet weather. Strict economy in the
natter of labor was the rule among sol ,
liers, and the earth for a couch and the I
ky for covering sufliced in most cases. .
never knew one Of these platforms made
o avoid sleeping on the frozen ground.
The soldier would spread his blanket and |
lie down until his underside fraterniZed |
With the ice, when he would growl and {
urn over and freeze the other side while |
he first thawed out, and SO on through I
he night. II
l well remember one fellow. a fine sol c
Iier too, who scorned the burden of even :
blanket on the march, and SO at night, ,
vhSn he failed 10 steal one (Which WAS S
eldoml. he sat up by fire and made 5
light hideous with mock sermons Of won I
erfui theology and doubtful morality. i
strange TO say, he survived the war. and I
now enlisted in the army of the Lord. c
II Nicksburg this same preacher was re- I
p0nsib!e for a ready retort under irving l
lie was then a firm Cal 5
mist. and was always ready to do battle I
q defense of his creed. One day he was s
itting. with n group, in an angle of the {
vorks. discussing his favorite dogma of i
Just then O shell eXplod- a
d and knocked the predestinarian over
Without hurting him. When he recov-
red his breath and legs he darted off for !.
he shelter of traverse just in front of 4.
Is. His antagonist yehed at and twtted
i'm with his want of faith in his own doc
rine. He did not pause in the order Of
lis going, but suffered back: .Ca-ca- I
an stop; it's pre- pre- -pre-destined that s
must get OH the other side Of the ira
and he fulfilled the decree to
he letter and with commendable alacrity. /
EN- Confederate Col J. H. Jones in
Times